1st timeOKW as DVCer - What do I need to know?

[minniesfriend]

Well, we finally closed last week on our resale points at BW. We are now officially DVCer's. YEA!!!! Going to OKW in 2 weeks. Is there anything we need to know or request before arrival? I saw in our member books that if we were unhappy with our room, then we would be charged a room changing fee. That stinks because there have been many times we have had to change rooms (rowdy neighbors, smoking is the biggest reason for change) We requested non-smoking so far. Are there any favorite buildings or buildings to "avoid"?

FYI - 1 bedroom - family of 4 - kids 6 and 8.

 

[Dancind]

Hate to say it, but since you just booked, it's going to be tough to get any special requests met. They prioritized requests by when the reservations were made. However, you should be able to get your non-smoking request. Get there early in the day for the best results. I wouldn't say any of the locations are "bad", though some may be worse for hearing the buses at night and in the morning. It couldn't hurt to ask to be near a pool, you might get lucky. If you get to your room and it's a smoking room (or just unacceptable for some reason), turn around and go back to check-in without touching anything. Tell them you want a different room because... They shouldn't charge you a cleaning fee if they don't have to clean, though I can't guarantee that. Diana

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Now that you mention it, I guess I do recall reading about a fee, but in reading the posts on these boards, I can't really remember ever hearing of a fee imposed when someone changed rooms for a legitimate reason. And as Dancind said above, if you check it thoroughly and find something amiss before settling in, they'd have no reason to charge you.

OKW is wonderful in its laid back feeling, and the rooms are so spacious. Have a wonderful time!!!

Oh, almost forgot - Congratulations and Welcome Home!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I know the fee, at least for changing from a studio, is $25. When we were given a HA accessible studio at VWL without being told, then told that "Well, of course you'll have to pay the $25 fee if you change" when we called within minutes, I figured that meant we would have been charged. I even complained that I didn't think it was fair to be charged when we hadn't even been told beforehand that the room was Handicapped-accessible, but the answer was "I understand, but that's the policy." You mean that people have changed without being charged?

 

[spiceycat]

I don't like to be near the HH but alot of people do -

building 62-64 are the newest and are the only ones with a elevator - I happen to like 55 or 18 - water views

the views at OKW are - water, woods or golf. You can also request to be near a bus stop or a pool - your choice - call MS today and put your request on your reservation.

 

[Dancind]

We changed after two nights in a BCV studio next to the road. We weren't sleeping very well because of the noise, and were happy to pay $25 to move. It seems wrong to me to be charged $25 when you and the resort both know that the room won't be cleaned again (as in all you did was walk in and walk back out)! Diana

 

[Cruelladeville]

I didn't get charged when I got my room changed at VWL because of--THE DUMPSTER! I was very disagreeable--hey, I had just arrived, had to wait two hours in the airport for lost luggage(it was headed to LA), waited an hour for a Mears shuttle, there was no place open for lunch and I had not eaten in 24 hours, AND THEY GIVE ME THE DUMPSTER ROOM?!!! And, yes, I spoke in caps to the lady behind the desk, too So I wasn't charged $25. Then a week later I transferred to BWV, and guess what they gave me? A dumpster view! So I replayed the same sob story, and it worked then too! I think I was just lucky the second time, though!

 

[Dean]

I'd be the first to say I woul rather not go than have a "bad room". To me having a smoking room or handicapped room would be the 2 main reasons to have a "bad room" that one could anticipate.

That being said, if you don't get your requests met and use the room, a charge is very appropriate. That includes smoking preference even for medical reasons, handicapped rooms, dumpster views and a jungle off the balcony. If you just walk in and use the phone they are not going to clean the room and should not charge you. The proper response is if any cleaning is needed, you will be charged for the room change/cleaning. So if you don't want a charge, don't use the rest room, LOL.

 

[Beth]

Cruelladeville,

Could you remind me of the "dumpster view" room numbers? We got that view in February... I wrote about it here on the boards, but I'm not able to search my old posts...

We're going over next weekend, and will be arriving a little late. I'm crossing my fingers...

TIA

 

[JimC]

Congratulations and Welcome Home!!

OKW is a great resort. Very laid back and relaxing. I believe they are doing some pool renovations, but only one pool is supposed to be closed at a time and they have 3 or 4 (I can never remember which).

We all prefer to have certain room views, locations and the like. But don't let the room view ruin your vacation. Request what is most important (for us at OKW it is first floor, near HH or bus stop because of mobility issues and no smoking). The following link gets you to some good advice about special requests.

http://www.wdwig.com/cro1.htm

Enjoy your first tirp home!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just wanted to second the "don't let room requests ruin your vacation". I'm one who made a request at POR for AB and was so excited, assuming I'd get it. Well, you can guess, I didn't, and I moped around for several hours in Magnolia Terrace. But when I came out of my "mope", I realized it was an absolutely beautiful room and view, the nicest I've had in 6 stays at POR!
Also, we requested a Marsh view at HH, and didn't get that. And we'd reserved at 7 months-Sniff! You'd think....But by the end of the first day there, we'd decided we loved our room and are already hoping we get it again next year!

 

[kfields1]

We stayed at OKW for the first time over Easter week. We loved it. We were in Building 14 which is right across from the HH. Our boys (4 and 6) loved the pool. We ate breakfast most mornings in the room, some lunches and a few dinners. It was much better than the kids eating chicken nuggets, hot dogs and french fries for every meal! I went to the Super Walmart for supplies and they had everything. The Community Center had a lot of fun activities for the boys. I HIGHLY recommend the Pirate Cruise out of the Grand Floridian. You can book it through CRO. My boys loved it and it gives you two hours to go to the GF Spa or have a nice, quiet lunch, etc. My kids also really enjoyed an evening at the Neverland Club. They have Play Station, arcade games, arts and crafts, toys, movies, etc. They sit them down as a group and feed them dinner (The usual choices above). Have fun!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Originally posted by Beth
Cruelladeville,

Could you remind me of the "dumpster view" room numbers? We got that view in February... I wrote about it here on the boards, but I'm not able to search my old posts...

We're going over next weekend, and will be arriving a little late. I'm crossing my fingers...

TIA

Hi Beth,
I had saved some info about the dumpster view VWL room. I'll copy and paste here :
room 4562
Yes, it is way at the end, facing in the direction of the bus stop. We had a similar room last Nov. Any even numbered room 2556 and up, 3556 and up, 4556 and up and 5556 and up will probably have that ugly dumpster area in view. On the ground floor (1556 and up) that area is blocked by landscaping.
Here's a pic of villa # 4562 : http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/spiceypj...spiceypj/lst?&.dir=/Vacations&.src=ph&.view=t

 

[KyBill]

When you check in, likely as not your villa won't be ready. At that time ask them if your requests were honored. If they say no then ask them if any thing else is available.
You will love OKW and the 1 BR is super.
Have fun.